It will be followed by No. 2 seeded East Side of Newark squaring off with No. 1 seed St. Joseph’s of Metuchen for the boys crown at 8 p.m.

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East Side (30-1), which a week ago blew out Ewing, 83-56, to claim the Group 3 state crown, is hoping to bring Newark its first-ever TofC crown and become the first public school since Camden in 2000 to finish No. 1.

It advanced to the final Friday edging last season’s TofC boys champ Roselle Catholic, 46-45, on a free throw with 1.6 left by 6-foot-7 Ismael Sonogo, who is signed to attend Seton Hall.

Monday’s opener has perennial girls finalist Shabazz (32-1) bidding for its sixth TofC crown overall when it plays Manasquan, the champ three years ago. Shabazz defeated Rancocas Valley for last year’s TofC crown.

“St. Joseph and East Side Newark are top teams with exceptional talent and both had excellent seasons,” said Steve Timko, executive director of the NJSIAA.

Led by 7-foot junior Karl Towns, who has already accepted a scholarship to play at Kentucky, St. Joe’s began it’s state playoff run on March 7 with a 101-75 rout of Notre Dame.

Tickets for the TofC final games are $8 for adults and are available online at www.ComcastTIX.com; by phone at 1-800-298-4200; or in person at the Sun National Bank Center Box Office.

Student/senior/child $2 tickets will be available for purchase at the Sun National Bank Center Box Office exclusively Monday. All tickets are general admission and valid for both games.

St. Joe’s (29-2) made it back to the title game outlasting Group 4 winner Linden as Towns shot 7-for-8 for 15 points, and added 10 rebounds.

Shabazz won its semifinal beating St. Rose of Belmar, while Manasquan ran its win streak to 17 holding off Wilson of Camden, 62-42, Friday.